Loading apparatus.



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THEODORE O. AHLBREOHT, OF HECTOR, MINNESOTA.

LOADING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 20, 1909.

Application filed May 9, 1908. Serial No. 431,976.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, THEODORE C, AHL- BREGHT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hector, in the county of Renville, State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Loading Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to improvements in loading apparatus, and it has for its object the provision of an exceedingly simple, readily-operated and eflicient apparatus of the type specified, which comprises, generally, a derrick, a sling suspended therefrom, and devices for raising and lowering the sling and for discharging its contents.

hlore especially, the invention resides in the construction of the sling in two sections which are normally connected together during the filling of the sling, are drawn toward each other as the sling is being raised, and are disconnected from each other when the sling has been elevated the requisite distance, to discharge its contents into the wagon stationed between the sides of the derrick and directly beneath the sling.

The invention further resides in the provision of a specially constructed platform which is likewise located between the sides of the derrick and serves to a certain extent, to brace the same, said platform comprising an open rectangular frame and a series of parallel beams connecting the opposite end members thereof, the beams being arranged in spaced relation to each other, to provide seats for the reception of the beams of which the sections of the sling are formed, thus positioning the sling prior to its filling and providing a support therefor during such operation.

The invention still further resides in the particular devices employed for detachably connecting the sling sections together.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which corresponding parts are designated by the same reference characters throughout the several views,

Of the the said drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the complete invention, showing the sling in its distended position upon the platform, Fig, 2 is a plan view of the sling in the above-mentioned position. Fig, 3 is a view similar to F ig, 1, but showing the sling raised, Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing the sling raised. Fig. 5 is aview similar to Fig. 4, showing the sling raised and opened. Fig, 6 is a detail perspective view illustrating the locking devices carried by the sling sections. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the platform. Fig, 8 is a perspective view of the scraper used in connection with the loading apparatus.

Referring more particularly to the draw ings, A designates generally the derrick, B the sling, O the operating devices for raising and lowering the latter, and D the platform.

The derrick A is shown as comprising a pair of sides 1 and 2, each of which includes a pair of inclined beams which converge slightly toward each other, the beams of the side 1 being provided at their upper ends with plates 3 which are bolted thereto as shown in Fig. 1 and have their free ends connected together by means of pins 4, to each of which pins is pivoted the upper end of the adjacent beam of the frame 2. The beams of the frame 1 are further connected with each other by means of intersecting diagonal braces 5 whose adjacent ends are joined by upper and lower cross braces 6 and 7.

The platform D which is disposed between the sides of the derrick, as shown in Fig. 2, comprises an open rectangular framev whose opposite side members 9 are connected together by means of parallel beams 10 arranged in spaced relation to each other and disposed at right angles to said members, to the under faces of which latter they are bolted or otherwise secured. The end members 11 of the frame are connected together by cross-beams 12 which are disposed in spaced relation to and parallel with each other, and rest uponthe beams 10, the outermost beams 12 being likewise disposed parallel with and in spaced relation to the adjacent frame members 9, this arrangement of said beams resulting in the formation of seats 13 which alternate with said beams and extend from end to end of the frame,

Each of the pins 4 above referred to 'carries a swinging depending yoke 15, the free ends of whose arms are provided with eyes through which the corresponding pin passes. From each yoke is suspended by means of a hook 16 a pulley block 17 carrying a series of three pulleys, below which block is disposed a second block 18 carrying a pair of rotatable pulleys, the connection between each pair of blocks being effected by a cable 19, said cables and blocks forming the mechanism C for raising and lowering the sling, as hereinafter described. Each block 18 is provided with a depending hook 20 and with an ear 22, the hooks being arranged for ehgagement with the eyes formed in a pair of inverted yokes 21, to which the adjacent ends of the sling are attached, while the ears, which are located upon the tops of said blocks, have each secured thereto one end of the corresponding cable 19, These cables are led around the pulleys carried by the blocks 17 and 18 in such a manner as to permit the lower blocks to move toward and from the upper blocks. After passing the upper blocks, said cables are led downwardly and pass around the pulleys carried by the pair of swinging blocks 24 pivoted to a stake 25 set into the ground adjacent the left hand member 9 of the platform frame, the free ends of the cables carrying whilfle-trees (not shown) to which the draft animals are hitched.

The sling which is suspended from the yokes 21, as above stated, comprises a pair of similar sections, each of which consists of a series of spaced parallel beams 26 connected together toward their opposite ends by chains 27, the flat links of which are bolted to the under faces of said beams. The mutually-adjacent innermost beams of the sling 1 sections are provided with pairs of transversely-disposed yokes 28 and 29, the bight portions of which overlap each other when the sling is distended, in which position, the several beams 26 fit in the seats 13 above referred to, the dimensions of the beams being slightly less than thoseof said seats. The bight portion of each yoke 28 has pivoted thereto a lever 30 which is passed between the arms of the opposite yoke 29 and is then bent backwardly so as p to extend across the under face of the beam 26 to which the first-mentioned yokes are attached, the

pivoted ends of said levers being curved for this purpose. When the levers are in the above mentioned} position, their free ends extend between pairs of spaced ears 31 formed upon plates 32 fastened to the under face of the beam which carries the yokes 28, said ends being retained in such position by means of latch rods 45 which extend in opposite directions and are pivoted at their inner ends to a centrally-pivoted lever 33 held in place by a strap 34 through whose free end the pivot pin of the lever passes. The actuation of said lever is effected by means of a cable 35 which is attached to one end thereof. When a pull is exerted upon the cable, said lever will be rocked upon its pivot, whereupon the latches 45 will be moved inwardly or toward each other, their outer ends being thus released from engagement with the free ends of the levers 30, said latches being guided in their movements by reason of their extension through perforations formed in the inner ears, as. shown in Fig. 6. The swinging movement of the lever 33 as effected by the cable 35, is limited by means of a stop plate 36 disposed adjacent the strap 34.

The outermost link of the chains 27 of each section of the sling has secured thereto the inner ends of a pair of chains 37 whose outer ends are arranged for engagement with the up-bent ends of the adjacent yoke 21, as shown in Fig. 1, by reason of which fact it will be apparent that the upward movement ofsaid yokes effected by the operating cables will in turn, raise the sling bodily from the platform.

In the operation of the apparatus, the sling sections are joined togetherby means of the locking devices above described, whereupon the sling is lowered until it rests in distended position upon the platform, the several beams 26 fitting in the seats 13 and resting upon the cross-beams 10. The sling is then filled with the manure or other material with which the wagon (not shown) is to be loaded by means of the scraper illustrated in Fig. 8, said implement including an angular base member 38 carrying a series of tines 39 whose rear ends are secured thereto, the ends of said member being connected by a pair of chains 40 with a forward cross-bar 41 to whose ends are secured the ends of a chain 42 provided with. a clevis ring 43, which ring is designed for attachment to a whiflle-tree. The scraper is guided by means of a pair of rearwardly extending handles 44 which are likewise secured to the base member 38. W hen sufficient material has been scraped upon the sling, the draft animals are hitched tofthe whifilertree carried by the operating cables 19. The movement of the animals away from the derrick will thus tension the cables and will raise the sling bodily owing to the engagement of the yokes 21 with the chains 37, the chain. connections between the beams which compose the sling permitting the sides of the sling to move toward each other and thus prevent its contents from spilling. When the sling has been elevated, the requisite distance above the platform, the wagon or spreader (not shown) is drawn across the platformfand stationed directly beneath the sling. The cable 35 is then tensioned so as to rock the lever 33 upon its pivot and thus withdraw the latches 45 from engagement with the outer ends of the levers 30. The weight of the contents of the sling will then cause the last-mentioned levers to automatically disengage themselves from the yokes 29, whereupon the sections of the sling will move apart from each other, thus dumping the load into the wagon. The wagon is then removed from the platform and the sling sections rengaged after which the sling is lowered into position upon the platform and again filled.

Owing to the particular construction of the platform it will be apparent that the sling is perfectly supported thereby when in its distended position, in which position, the sling beams are received in the seats 13 and rest upon the cross-beams 10, the upper faces of the several beams 12 and 26 being approximately flush so as to offer no obstruction to either the scraper or the wagon when the same are drawn across the platform. The beams 12 as shown in Figs. 2and 7 are preferably formed in sections, the mutually-adjacent ends of which are arranged in spaced relation to each other to provide seats for the reception of the chains 27.

What is claimed is:

1. In a loading apparatus, in combination, a derrick; a platform located between the sides of the derrick and including a series of spaced parallel beams; and a vertically-movable sling carried by the derrick and including a series of spaced connected beams arranged parallel with each other and with the first mentioned beams, to fit in the spaces between the latter when the sling is lowered upon the platform.

2. In a loading apparatus, in combination, a derrick; a platform located between the sides of the derrick and including an open frame and a series of spaced parallel crossbeams connecting the opposite sides thereof, and a vertically-movable sling carried by the derrick and including a series of flexibly connected spaced beams arranged parallel with each other and with the first mentioned beams, to fit in the spaces between the latter when the sling is lowered upon the platform.

3. In a loading apparatus, in combination, a derrick; a platform located between the sides of the derrick and including an open frame and upper and lower series of spaced parallel cross-beams connecting the opposite sides thereof, one series of beams being arranged. at right-angles to the other series; and a vertically-movable sling carried by the derrick and including a series of connected spaced beams arranged parallel with each other and with the upper series of crossbeams, to fit in the spaces between the latter and to rest upon the lower series of crossbeams, when the sling is lowered upon the platfor 4. In a loading apparatus, in combination, a derrick; a platform located between the sides of the derrick and including an open frame and upper and lower series of spaced parallel cross-beams connecting the opposite sides thereof, the upper series of beams being arranged at right-angles to the lower series of beams and being each provided with transverse seats; and a vertically-movable sling carried by the derrick and including a series of spaced beams arranged parallel with each other and with the upper series of crossbeams, and flexible elements connecting said beams together and arranged to fit in said seats, the sling beams being arranged to fit in the spaces between the latter and to rest upon the lower series of cross-beams, when the sling is lowered upon the platform.

5. In a loading apparatus, in combination, a derrick; a platform located between the sides of the derrick and including an open frame and upper and lower series of spaced parallel cross-beams connecting the opposite sides thereof, the upper series of beams being arranged at right-angles to the lower series of beams and being formed in sections having their mutually-adjacent ends arranged in spaced relation to each other, to provide seats; and a vertically-movable sling carried by the derrick and including a series of spaced beams arranged parallel with each other and with the upper series of crossbeams and arranged to fit in the spaces between the latter, when the sling is lowered upon the platform, and chains connecting the sling beams together and arranged to fit in said seats, said sling beams and chains resting upon the lower series of cross-beams.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

THEODORE C. AHLBRECHT. Witnesses:

H. L. TORBENSON, F. G. MAsoHKE. 

